A sweet a collection of calico critters, a red and white checked elephant, a blue floral hippo and a giraffe in a bold black, red and red calico pattern. No sounds inside, but his is a good choice for tracking and the collection will be fun for dramatic play along with big plastic blocks later on. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Chunky soft vinyl trucks have a pull back and go action. Done in bright colors, the trucks scoot forward with a clicking sound. We love the fire truck. We're often asked for vehicles that are safe for the 3 & under set...these are really great choice.
The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP IDEAS: Set up some destination for the little firetruck. Kids like to use their crayons or paint to make a garage out of a small box with cut out doorways. This can become the firehouse. Use another box and put openings in two sides of a box to make a tunnel. Try to make the truck zoom in one side and out the other. Can you make the little truck run between the legs of a small table? Use lids of small shoe boxes to make a ramp for the truck to go up and down. These little games reinforce the meaning of such concepts as up, down, in and out, in between, etc. Playing together and using language in such informal ways builds concrete understanding of such language and concepts.

Bold red and hot pink velour is sure to attract the attention of baby as you use this adorable puppet for tracking and singing games. Soft to the touch, with vibrant colors and patterns that have visual appeal, and stitched features this is safe enough for older babies to handle as a huggable; though this is a toy that is really meant for grownups to activate for lap games. Machine washable. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

A good tracking toy that baby will eventually grasp and explore. A bead-filled plastic cylinder between soft velour ends, they provide interesting texture and sound. For "strong" babies, choose the 50 lb. Weights or look for Pupps, Fwoggy, and Flappy. These are 8". For older babies, see the Jumbo 12" version that makes a nice rhythm instrument. Always recommended, BLUE CHIP Tinkle, Crinkle, Rattle, & Squeak ($10), a velour caterpillar-shaped toy with multiple sounds and bright primary colors for eye-grabbing attention.

SNAP INFO: Good tracking toys that baby will eventually grasp and explore. Bead-filled plastic cylinders between soft velour ends, they provide interesting texture and sound. These are soft enough so that a child won't bop an eye with random hand movements. ACTIVITY TIP: Where Is It? Shake the Beanstix to get baby's attention. Move it slowing from one side to another to develop visual and auditory tracking skills.

Happy to see this Platinum Award winner back in the market! Little hands can easily activate the spinners on this rattling activity toy that's ideal for two-handed investigations. There's a ratchet dial on one side, a reflection bead chamber on the other side, and in the center there's a small spinning mirror, big egg-shaped beads, and a barrel for developing the use of individual fingers and as a colorful rolling toy for small social games. We have not received safety verification for this product and we have not tested it in an independent lab.

You can attach this musical toy to crib rails and use it later on as a take along musical. Totally low tech, this music box with a handle plays "It's a Small, Small World" as bunnies and bear pictures scroll slowly on the "TV" screen. Tots can wind the knob, spin a roller or beep a button. We have not received safety verification for this product and we have not had it tested in an independent lab.

This play mat remains our favorite with two arches and dangly toys baby can gaze and eventually bat at. It gets high marks for keeping baby entertained. We prefer this design to the classic plastic activity gyms. Available in high-contrast black, white, and red version. Not for babies who are beginning to pull themselves up. Deluxe version is slightly larger.

SNAP INFO: This soft fabric playmat with dangly toys on soft arches comes in a variety of choices. For bold visual graphics select the black. white and red version. Easy to fold and carry along, the deluxe version is larger than most, a plus for bigger babies who may not be on the move, but ready to reach out and activate things. Like all playmats, this is to be used only with supervision and is not intended for babies who are pulling themselves up. Adaptation: Babies stop noticing toys that are always in their sight- just as you stop noticing a vase that's always in the same place. Change the soft danglies positions or substitute others to add visual interest.

Glad to see this line back in the market place. We awarded the collection a Platinum Award in 2000. We're now adding them to our Blue Chip Classics award winners. What we wrote in 2000: We were really impressed with this new but classic-looking line of baby toys, crafted of sturdy primary-colored plastics. An Activity Cube for little fingers to activate has a mirror, squeaker, roller and spinning ball. The Gripper Ball has four easy-to-grab rounded handles and a see-through hourglass in the middle with beads that roll from side to side. Also highly recommended: Triangle Rings, Abacus Rings, Roller Rattle Ball ($5 each) with a jolly sound, and Reflector Rattle ($16) with colorful marbles that look almost liquid as they spin around a mirrored triangular well.

SNAP INFO: To develop two-handed play, kids need a variety of manipulatives with interesting payoffs. Tolo's Activity Cube has a mirror, squeaker, roller, and spinning ball for little fingers to activate. The Gripper Ball has four easy-to-grab rounded handles and a see-through hourglass in the middle with beads that roll from side to side. New for 2000, Play Triangle with spinning mirror and big beads.

Newly updated with bright graphics, this fabric-covered wedge with a mirror for baby to peer into is ideal for tummy time play. Covered in eye-grabbing orange with multi-colored piping. The unbreakable safety mirror in a soft fabric frame can be removed and used separately. Birst & up.